International Conference
Museums, libraries and archives online:
MICHAEL service and other international initiatives
4-5 December 2006
Roma, Complesso del San Michele - Sala dello Stenditoio
Via di San Michele, 22
Session 4: Digital Cultural Heritage in the world/Il patrimonio culturale digitale nel mondo
Pierre Sammut
Heritage Malta
MICHAEL and cultural tourism
Abstract
When one looks at the EU Map, Malta
is hardly visible. Just look and try to compare it with Sicily, which
is our closest neighboring island. Yet, we are not culturally insignificant
because of our size. To the contrary, at the very heart of the Mediterranean,
the Maltese islands boast 7000 years of history in which cultures and
languages blended to create a unique tourist attraction. One of the most
arduous tasks of Heritage Malta is to bring to light a number of Collections
which are currently being documented and grouped in a way as to be presented
to the public. This is being done thanks to the work which is being carried
out for MichaelPlus project. This is unique opportunity for a small nation
like Malta to be in the caring company of other nations and organizations
which have had a much better experience and exposure so far. The Michael
Plus platform will help us to make visible to the entire world what Malta
possesses. Our reserve collection is much bigger that what is being displayed
in our museums. Michael Plus Project can help us enrich the visitors’ experience
by adding information on Malta’s collection of archaeological artifacts,
religious artifacts, works of arts and archaeological remains. We strongly
believe that a Platform such as MichaelPlus together with other EU projects
such as MEDINA Project could prove a source of major information to all
interested stakeholders in the field of cultural tourism.